Police have warned festive revellers about the potential tragic consequences of being caught up in drink-fuelled violence after a spate of killings and violent attacks in one force's area.

Police have warned festive revellers about the potential tragic consequences of being caught up in drink-fuelled violence after a spate of killings and violent attacks in one force's area.

Durham Police's senior detectives issued the grim seasonal warning after the string of killings and assaults left six men dead in incidents of late-night violence fuelled by booze.

Detective Superintendents Tom Ryan and Harry Stephenson, who investigated the cases, fear a growing trend of alcohol-fuelled violence is developing in Co Durham and that festivities over the coming weeks could lead to further incidents.

In recent weeks a 26-year-old man was jailed after denying murder but admitting the manslaughter of a 53-year-old father-of-three in an unprovoked street attack.

Since March, five other men, from their late teens to early 60s, have died in similar circumstances while a 17-year-old boy narrowly survived a vicious assault which left him pole-axed after a club disco.

Mr Ryan said: "All too often we are being called in to pick up the pieces after an incident that has triggered an act or acts of explosive violence.

"The result is that someone finds themselves in a police cell trying to explain their actions while, in some cases, an innocent victim is lying in the mortuary.

"In many of these cases just one punch has been enough to produce devastating results for their victims and families."

Mr Stephenson added: "We are not for one minute suggesting people should not go out and have a good time.

"We simply want them to think about the consequences of actions which too many times this year have turned to tragedy.

"Young men are quick to become aggressive and all too often ready to offer violence.